Voting for Cote d’Ivoire’s presidential election proceeded smoothly on Saturday, though voter turnout varied across polling stations in Abidjan.
“All polling stations are open and functioning normally. Security forces, deployed for three weeks, are fully fulfilling their mission,” said Minister of Interior and Security Vagondo Diomande following a field visit.
A total of 44,000 police officers, gendarmes and military personnel were mobilized nationwide to secure the vote. In the densely populated commune of Yopougon, police officers patrolled the streets on motorcycles and in pickup trucks.
According to the Independent Electoral Commission, 25,678 polling stations were established, 25,370 within Cote d’Ivoire and 308 abroad, to accommodate 8,727,431 registered voters, including 8,607,253 in the country and 120,178 overseas.
National and international observers, including 251 experts from a joint AU-ECOWAS mission, closely monitored the process. In total, 2,300 observers were deployed across the country.
President Alassane Ouattara, seeking a fourth term, cast his vote late in the morning at Sainte Marie High School in Cocody. He called for a peaceful election and expressed hope that results would be announced “by tomorrow at the latest.”
Ouattara, 83, representing the Rally of Houphouetists for Democracy and Peace, faces four challengers: former First Lady Simone Ehivet Gbagbo, 76, candidate of the Movement of Capable Generations; Jean-Louis Billon, 60, candidate of the Democratic Congress; Ahoua Don Mello, 67, an independent candidate; and Henriette Lagou Adjoua, 66, candidate for the Group of Political Partners for Peace.
The election is taking place in a tense atmosphere, following court rulings that barred two main opposition leaders, Laurent Gbagbo and Tidjane Thiam, from running. The campaign period was marred by protests, some turning violent, resulting in the arrest of 700 people and prison sentences of up to 36 months for nearly 30 demonstrators. Enditem
Source: Xinhua
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